At a glittering awards evening at Cardiff’s Cineworld Torchwood creator Russell T Davies announced that the international jury had selected German filmmaker Till Kleinert’s "Cowboy" to scoop the coveted award.

Accepting the award, Till said taking part in the competition and attending the three-day festival in Cardiff had been an incredible experience.

He urged the Iris Prize organizers, Cardiff-based The Festivals Company, that while the competition inevitably grew even larger in future years the unique way international film makers, the judges and the people of Cardiff are brought together must be retained.

Till also receives the £500 Goleudy Travel award to help them return to the UK to make their next film.

Festival organizer Berwyn Rowlands said: This year Cardiff demonstrated to the world that with the support of Iris the city could become a significant force for the world’s lesbian and gay film community. The closing night awards show was totally amazing, with guests from Germany, Israel, Australia, Canada and the US all enjoying our Welsh hospitality. Everyone involved should be very proud of what has been achieved.

"Cowboy is a fantastic film that captured the imagination of the jury and the general public. Till Kleinert is a huge talent. I’m so excited that he will return to Wales to make a new film with his prize."

Chair of the international jury Elan Closs Stephens said it had been an extremely difficult decision to make with long and passionate debate as to who should win the competition for the world’s best gay and lesbian short film.

Speaking before the awards evening "Dr Who," "Torchwood" and "Queer as Folk" writer and director Davies said; "I’m very excited to be involved with the Iris Film Festival. It’s a fantastic prize, which allows one lucky winner to make a short film. This year’s shortlist includes work from an astonishing 11 countries, which confirms that gay and lesbian film making is alive and kicking around the world!"

All the film makers who travel to Wales for the festival are hosted by Friends of Iris, individuals who open their homes to the makers of the 30 short listed films from as far afield as Australia, Canada, and the United States at their own cost to attend.

The 35 minute film, which Till had introduced at its screening, tells the story of city dweller Christian, working for a real estate agent, comes to a deserted village where he meets country lad Cowboy. They spend the day and night together. When harvest starts at dawn the village shows its real face and the two men are forced to pay a terrible price in order to leave.

The films competing for the Iris Prize are the crème of the international gay and lesbian film industry with many having been entered for them by film festivals around the globe including new partner festivals in Germany, Brazil and Israel.

Mr Gay UK, Cardiff-based Dino Gamecho, announced that the competition’s new award for best feature film was won by American James Bolton for Dream Boy, a love story between teenagers in the American South in the 1970s.

The feature film award carries a £1,000 cash prize donated by Independent Financial Adviser Martin Briggs from Cardiff and is selected by the Friends of Iris.

2007 Iris Prize winner Dee Rees announced that the Skillset Best UK Short was won by Northern Ireland director Conor Clements for his film James. He receives £1,000 from Skillset towards training.

The awards evening also included screening of BBC Wales Week In Week Out program presented by Ian Watkins about growing up gay in the Valleys which was followed by a lively and heated debate during with Russell T Davies urged broadcasters to use their authority not to provide a platform for homophobic religious zealots with extremist views as they were clearly mentally ill.

Almost half the of the film makers traveled to Wales for the three day festival which also included six of the latest gay and lesbian feature films, with several enjoying their UK or European premieres.

The international jury included last year’s winner Dee Rees from the United States, actor Simon Russell Beale, director Nia Dryhurst and film makers , actors and industry experts from across the continents. At an earlier screening of last year’s winning film Pariah Dee Rees revealed her family had still not come to terms with her daughter being gay and had not seen the film which they regarded as "the devil’s work".

Dee said the importance of the Iris Prize was that it gave new directors what they really need – the £25,000 resource to continuing making films. She also revealed Pariah is now being made as a feature film and that she plans to travel back to Wales to make a new short film set in Cardiff’s Somali community.

Director: Laurie Lynd

Best Documentary: "A Finished Life: The Good Bye & No Regrets Tour"

Director: Michelle Boyaner, Barbara Green

Best Girl Short: "No Bikini"

Director: Claudia Morgado Escanilla

Best Boy Short: "The Awakening"

Director: Christian Tafdrup

Director: Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern

Best Feature Film: "XXY"

Director: Lucía Puenzo

Best Short Film: "I'm Jin Young"

Director: Sung-Eun Lee

Best Director, Documentary: Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern for "Pageant"

Best Director, Feature Film: Shamim Sarif for "World Unseen"

Best Director, Short Film: Edward Gunawan for "Laundromat"

Best Actor: Tye Olson for "Watercolors"

Best Actress: Christine Evangelista for "Goodbye Baby"

Each award receipiant will receive an engraved crystal plate from Tiffany & Co. Congratulations everyone and thank you for creating amazing films for our entertainment and enlightenment.

"Antônia" (Brazil, 2006, 90’),

Directed by Tata Amaral

Jury Statement: We chose “Antônia” as our Best Feature Film. It is an important film which shows a vibrant optimism about women in the favelas of Brazil. Often in Brazilian Cinema the favelas are presented with the dance beat of guns and death but instead in “Antônia” we have the dance beat of four women rising up together against hardship through their creativity. This film has daring camera, beautiful performances and a driving edit and is a vital addition to the Cinema of Brazil.

The Jury: José Pedro Ribeiro, São José Correia, Pier Maria Bocchi, Lisa Gornick

BEST ACTRESS

Nuria Espert for her performance in "Barcelona (Un Mapa)" | Barcelona (A Map) (Spain, 2007, 85’),

Directed by: Ventura Pons

BEST ACTOR

Josep Maria Pou for his performance in "Barcelona (Un Mapa)" | Barcelona (A Map) (Spain, 2007, 85’),

Directed by Ventura Pons

For their strong, deep, convincing performances as two old people who know that they should go through vital changes during their last days together, we decided to give the prizes for the Best Actor and the best Actress to Josep Maria Pou and Nuria Espert for their touching and challenging portrait of a couple in “Barcelona (A Map)”.

The Jury: José Pedro Ribeiro, São José Correia, Pier Maria Bocchi, Lisa Gornick

BEST DOCUMENTARY (1.000,00€)

"Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story" (Australia, 2006, 54’),

Directed by: Julian Shaw

Jury Statement: We the jury decided unanimously to award “Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story”, by Julian Shaw, the Prize for Best Documentary. “Darling!” is a heart-warming, positive, well-balanced, skilfully made documentary with an important historical and political perspective and message. The way Julian Shaw deals with his subject and protagonist is tender, authentic, and educational without being moralistic.

The Jury: Eládio Clímaco, Barbara Reumüller, Maria José García

BEST SHORT FILM | AUDIENCE AWARD (500,00€) – Award sponsored by Bico de Pena Publishing House

First Prize: "69 – Praça da Luz" (Brazil, 2007, 21’)

Directed by: Carolina Markowicz, Joana Galvão| 8 Points

Second Prize: "Lugar: Jag Är Bög" | I Am Gay (Sweden, 2008, 15’),

Directed by: Nicolas Kolovos| 7,9 Points (Mention)

Third Prize: "Lugar: Frequent Traveller" (Portugal, 2007, 8’), Directed by: Patrícia Bateira| 7,8 Points (Mention)

SCION Award for First Time Director: "Were the World Mine"

Director: Tom Gustafson

Jury Award for Best Male Short: "Wrestling"

Director: Grimur Hakonarson

Jury Award for Best Female Short: "Congratulations Daisy Graham"

Director: Cassandra Nicolaou

TIED for Jury Award for Best Documentary: "Squeezebox"

Director: Steve Saporito, Zach Shaffer A

AND "Polymath, or the Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman"

Director: Fred Barney Taylor

Jury Award for Best Feature: "Ciao"

Director: Yen Tan

Programmers’ Award for Best Female Short: "Dire Straights"

Director: Carolina Roca-Smith

Programmers’ Award for Best Male Short: "Getting Lucky"

Director: Christian Lloyd

Audience Award for Best Documentary: "black./womyn.: conversations with lesbians of African descent"

Director: Tiona M.

Audience Award for Best Feature: "Tru Loved"

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Feature Film: "XXY"

DIRECTOR: Lucia Puenzo

First-time director Lucia Puenzo has created a film as beautiful, tough and unpredictable as the rocky Uruguayan shoreline on which it is set. XXY is a portrait of Alex, a 15-year-old coping with an extended puberty made more complicated by the presence of an extra chromosome and, according to her mother, a few extra parts. Born intersex, Alex has been brought up female. But now that her body is changing— and she’s faced with the prospect of “corrective” surgery that her father refused to allow when she was born— she’s beginning to wonder.

Best Documentary: "PAGEANT"

DIRECTOR: Ron Davis, Stewart Halpern

Taking us behind the glitz and glamour of the 34th annual Miss Gay America, filmmakers Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern focus on five female impersonators as they descend on Memphis, Tennessee to strut their stuff and compete against 45 other contestants. The amazing physical transformation of these men into glamorous women is a wonder to behold. No hormones or body enhancements are allowed, which means these au natural drag queens become beautiful the old-fashioned way: with duct tape and lots of makeup.

Best Short: "NO BIKINI"

DIRECTOR: Claudia Morgado Escanilla

At seven years old, Robin decides to go without her bikini top at a summer camp – with surprising results!

The Jury prize winners were:

Best Feature / Documentary: "FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO"

Director: Daniel G. Karslake (USA)

Best Feature is awarded € 1000

Honorable Mention: SPINNIN' (6 BILLION DIFFERENT PEOPLE) (ES)

Director: USE (Eusebio Pastrana)

Best Short Film: THE SADDEST BOY IN THE WORLD

Director: Jamie Travis (CANADA)

Best Short is awarded € 500

Honorable Mention: KJÆRLIGHETENS VALG

Director: Eirik Andreas Sandaker (NORWAY)

The Audience Awards:

Best Feature: THE CHINESE BOTANIST'S DAUGHTERS

Director: Sijie Dai (FRANCE/CANADA)

Best Short: PRADA HANDBAG

Director: Stuart Vauvert (AUSTRALIA)

Director: Danielle Bernstein

Best Spiritual Film: PURPLE STATE OF MIND

Director: Craig Detweiler, John Marks

Best Documentary: THE BIG QUESTION

Director: Vince DiPersio

Best Student Film: Muhammad Ali Hasan for RABIA

Best Drama: CRAZY

Director: Rick Bieber

Best Short Drama: BENEATH THE TIDES

Director: Jacqueline Archer

Best GLBT: TRU LOVED

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Comedy: THIS IS NOT A TEST

Director: Christopher Angel

Best Short Comedy: STRUCK

Director: Taron Lexton

Best Original Score: MARIONETTE

Director: Yo Kohatsu

Best Screenplay: Kevin Allen Jackson & Andres Faucher in EL PASAJERO

Director: Andres Faucher

Best Special Effects: THE FLYBOYS

Director: Rocco DeVilliers

Best Animation: OUTSOURCE

Director: Daniel Trezise

Best Director: Rocco DeVilliers for THE FLYBOYS

Best Actress: Najarra Townsend in TRU LOVED

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Actor: Waylon Payne in CRAZY

Director: Rick Bieber

Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Clunnie in LEAVING BARSTOW

Director: Peter Paige

Best Supporting Actors: Dan McCabe & Luke Grimes in WAR EAGLE, ARKANSAS

Director: Robert Milazzo

Best Ensemble Cast: Jorge Palacios & Dimas Gonzales in EL PASAJERO

Director: Andres Faucher

Best Cinematographer: Yo Kohatsu for MARIONETTE

Director: Yo Kohatsu

Audience Awards

#1 COURTHOUSE GIRLS FROM FARMLAND

Director: Norman Klein

#2 ACT YOUR AGE

Director: Robin Christian

#3 THE FLYBOYS

Director: Rocco DeVilliers

The Showtime Vanguard Award, selected by Showtime representatives, celebrates a breakthrough or visionary achievement, and was awarded to:

THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA, directed by Olaf de Fleur.

The NewDraft Screenplay Competition winners are Day Dream by Rodney Evans and Love Marriage by Soman Chainani. They will receive full staged screenplay readings later in 2008 or early 2009.

The Vito Russo Award, given each year to a New York-based film project in progress will be awarded at NewFest's annual Winter Benefit.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

The Audience Award for Best Feature was awarded to:

PAGEANT, directed by Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern.

The Audience Award for Best Short was awarded to:

COWBOY, directed by Til Kleinert.

JURIED AWARDS:

The Best US Narrative Feature Award went to:

THE LOST COAST, directed by Gabriel Fleming, for its emotionally engaging narrative, raw and accomplished performances, and technical craftsmanship and beauty.

Honorable Mention went to:

Sam Zalutsky's YOU BELONG TO ME for its play with genre conventions and for its wonderful casting.

The US Narrative Feature Jury was composed of Angel L Brown (Queer Black Cinema), Tom Cunha (Mammoth), and Frank DeCaro (The Frank DeCaro Show).

The Best International Narrative Feature Award went to:

THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA, directed by Olaf de Fleur, for its eye for detail and emotional honesty, and its ability to blend documentary and fiction.

Honorable Mention went to:

Roberto Cuzzillo's NO END for showing the difficult and painful journey of two women on their way to motherhood and sickness, and for avoiding simple clichés, by instead creating a remarkable sense of intimacy and moments of raw, emotional power.

The International Narrative Feature Jury was comprised of Charlie Olsky (indieWIRE), Michael Stuetz (Berlin International Film Festival), and Sarah Warn (AfterEllen.com).

The Best Documentary Feature Award went to:

BE LIKE OTHERS, directed by Tanaz Eshaghian, for its its careful and sensitive examination and exploration of a complicated issue, the status of gender and sexual variance among Iranians.

Honorable Mention went to:

Taylor Greeson's MEADOWLARK for exposing his personal story with emotional intensity and raw honesty, and for doing so in a creatively challenging manner.

The Documentary Feature Jury consisted of Katherine Linton (Linton Media), David Nugent (The Hamptons International Film Festival), and Pauline Park (NYAGRA).

The Best Narrative Short Award was awarded to:

Claudia Morgado Escanilla's NO BIKINI, for its innocent celebration of gender non-conformity by a tomboy at swimming lessons.

The Best Documentary Short Award was awarded to:

Charlotte Hoogakker's ODD ONE OUT, VERY NORMAL REALLY: FROM LUCAS TO LUUS, FROM BOY TO GIRL, for its candid, endearing, and humorous depiction of one pre-adolescent’s transition.

The Short Jury was composed of NewFest's Shorts Screening Committee.

Audience Choice Award for Best Feature: SHELTER (Jonah Markowitz - USA) - $5000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and Volkswagen

Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary: I KNOW THAT I AM (Peyman Khosravi – Iran/Netherlands) - $2000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and MQFF Life member David McCarthy.

Audience Choice Award for Best Australian Short Film: MY LAST TEN HOURS WITH YOU (Sophie Hyde) $1000 cash. Co-presented by MQFF and Karen Russell of Step Right Up.

Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film: PAGES OF A GIRL (Paginas de Menina) (Monica Pallazzo - Brazil) $500 cash.

Selector’s Choice Award for Best Film In Celluloid Casserole: LOVE IS BLUE (Emily Brindal - Australia) - $500 cash.

GRAND PRIX DU JURY – LONG MÉTRAGE

AVANT QUE J’OUBLIE (Jacques Nolot / France)

Pour son portrait humoristique, envoûtant et profond d’un ex-gigolo, et d’un côté plutôt raffiné de la scène gaie parisienne.

PRIX VISION 20/20: LE PRÉSENT ET LE FUTUR

Ce nouveau prix, en l’honneur de l’anniversaire marquant d’image+nation, est présenté à un cinéaste qui fait preuve d’une vision singulière ou qui dépeint des sujets rarement mis de l’avant dans le cinéma LGBT.

LOVE MY LIFE (Koji Kawano / Japon)

GRAND PRIX DU JURY – DOCUMENTAIRE

A JIHAD FOR LOVE (Parvez Sharma / États-Unis, Royaume-Uni, France, Allemagne, Australie)

Pour son approche sensible et intelligente d’un sujet important, ce film nous transporte par ces nombreux personnages à travers les pays de l’Islam. Un témoignage de la foi par le biais de l’homosexualité des sujets rencontrés.

MENTION SPÉCIALE DU JURY – DOCUMENTAIRE

A WALK INTO THE SEA: DANNY WILLIAMS & THE WARHOL FACTORY (Esther B. Robinson / États-Unis)

GRAND PRIX DU JURY – COURT MÉTRAGE

PARIAH (Dee Rees / États-Unis)

MENTION SPÉCIALE DU JURY – COURT MÉTRAGE

CONGRATULATIONS DAISY GRAHAM (Cassandra Nicolaou / Canada)

Best Lesbian Short- URSULA Lesbisch: "Private Life"

Directed By: Abbe Robinson (Great Britain, 2006)

Best Gay Short- URSULA Schwul: "Peking Turkey" Directed By: Michael Mew (Canada, 2006)

Best Transgender Short- URSULA Transgender: "Trannymals Go To Court"

Directed By: Dylan Vade and Abe Bernard (USA, 2007)

Each prize winning film was awarded 1000 Euros.

Best European Feature- EUROLA: "Sønner" (Sons)

Directed By: Erich Richter Strand (Norway, 2006)

Best Feature from outside Europe- GLOBOLA: "Red without Blue"

Directed By: Brooke Sebold, Benita and Todd Sills (USA, 2006)

Best Narrative: "THE WITNESSES"

Directed By: André Téchiné

Cash Prize: $750

For its amazing performances, realistically flawed characters, and compelling story that starts out light and darkens as AIDS descends.

Honourable Mention: "THE KING AND THE CLOWN"

Directed By: Jun-ik Lee

Sumptuous, touching and operatic in scope, The King and the Clown is a fascinating depiction of love beyond the physical.

Best New Director: Jonah Markowitz for "SHELTER"

Cash Prize: $250

For his ability to depict, with sympathy, the complexities of contemporary struggles with class, sexuality and responsibility. We look forward to seeing him develop his voice.

Best Documentary: "RAILROAD ALL-STARS"

Directed By: Chema Rodriguez

Cash Prize: $750

For its unique and heartfelt depiction of sex workers in Guatemala who form a soccer team to draw attention to the oppression they face.

Honourable Mention: "JERUSALEM IS PROUD TO PRESENT"

Directed By: Nitzan Gilady

For the courage of the filmmaker and the film’s subjects who quite literally risked their lives in the efforts leading up to Jerusalem World Pride.

Best Local Film: "BLOOD ON THE FLAT TRACK: The Rise of the Rat City Rollergirls "

Directed By: Lainy Bagwell & Lacey Leavitt

Cash Prize: $500

For its gritty, witty and pretty picture of the rise of the Rat City Roller Girls.

Honourable Mention: "WE ARE GLBTQ"

Directed By: Derek Himeda

For providing leadership in telling the diverse and real stories of LGBTQ youth in foster care.

Best Short Film: "PARIAH"

Directed By: Dee Rees

Cash Prize: $500 presented by Wolfe

Through extraordinary cinematography, editing, script and acting, the film took its audience into the world of an African-American family in the Bronx, making their issues ones that could be shared by all.

Honourable Mention: "MY FIRST TIME DRIVING"

Directed By: Rebecca Feldman

Poignant and hilarious script, well acted, paced and executed.

Most Innovative Short Film: "SALT"

Directed By: Campbell Farquhar

Cash Prize: $250

A visually stunning and fun story that made potatoes sexy. Innovative use of live-action close-ups and stop motion.

Honourable Mention: "ROCK POCKETS"

Directed By: Trevor Anderson

Wonderfully timed voice-over and soundtrack that synched with images. Through humor and objective observation of a personal story, the film subtly speaks to a broader audience.

Audience Award Winners:

Favorite Narrative Feature: "SHELTER"

Directed By: Jonah Markowitz

Favorite Documentary: "JERUSALEM IS PROUD TO PRESENT"

Directed By: Nitzan Gilady

Favorite Local Film: "BLOOD ON THE FLAT TRACK: The Rise of the Rat City Roller Girls"

Directed By: Lainy Bagwell & Lacey Leavitt

Favorite Boys Short: "A TRIP TO PRAGUE"

Directed By: Neil Ira Needleman

Favorite Girls Short: "PARIAH"

Directed By: Dee Rees

Best Feature: "The King and The Clown"

Directed By: Jun-ik Lee (South Korea, 2005)

Best Documentary: "For The Bible Tells Me So"

Directed By: Daniel Karslake (USA, 2007)

Best Male Short: Peking Turkey"

Directed By: Michael Mew (Canada, 2006)

Best Female Short: "Happenstance"

Directed By: Joyce Draganosky (USA, 2007)

The Plant A Seed filmmaker grant will be given to Stu Maddux and Joe Applebaum to help finance their documentary "Trip To Hell and Back," the story of a man who led a double life as a methamphetamine dealer.

Director: Stefan Westerwelle

Germany, 2006, 77’

Prize: 1.000,00€

“The majority of the Jury decided to give the Award for Best Feature Film to Stefan Westerwelle’s “Solange du hier bist”. The Jury appreciated the coherence of the film’s theme and form. The film is narrated in a visual language characterized by artful composition with great attention to detail. Loneliness and the proximity of death are rarely explored in cinema, thus making the film appealing to audiences regardless of their sexuality.”

-Jury statement

Special Mention: Carla Ribas for "A Casa de Alice"

Director: Chico Teixeira

Brazil, 2007, 90’

“The Jury decided to award a Special Mention to Carla Ribas for her excellent portrayal of the character Alice, in “A Casa de Alice”, directed by Chico Teixeira.”

-Jury statement

Best Documentary: "Estrellas de la Línea" (The Railroad All-Stars)

Director: Chema Rodríguez

Spain, 2006, 90’

Prize: 1.000,00€

“The winner of the best documentary award is Estrellas de la línea/ The Railroad All-Stars, by Chema Rodríguez. It’s about a group of prostitutes from Guatemala who decide to create a football team to give visibility to their fight against discrimination, violence and exclusion. It´s not a gay film, nor a lesbian or a transgender film. It’s all that and more. It´s a universal, clever, unexpected and moving film about the ability to resist, to defy one’s destiny and sexual, social, cultural and gender conventions. The hookers ‘de la linea’ don´t want to be perceived as victims. They laugh as they fight, and they make us laugh a lot. There’s really no better way to bring people together. And that’s what this fight is all about.”

-Jury statement

Best Short Film – Audience Award: "Singularidades"

Director: Luciano Coelho

Brazil, 2006, 35’

Prize: 500,00€

directed by Cyrus Amini

Outstanding International Narrative Feature: TULI

directed by Auraeus Solito

Outstanding Documentary Feature:JERUSALEM IS PROUD TO PRESENT

directed by Nitzan Gilady

Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film:

Merlin Gaspers and Dorian Brockington in 25 CENT PREVIEW

Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film:

Michelle Ehlen in BUTCH JAMIE

Outstanding Screenwriting:

Casper Andreas and Jesse Archer for A FOUR LETTER WORD

Outstanding Dramatic Short: PARIAH

directed by Dee Rees

Outstanding Documentary Short: LEGACY

directed by Inge Blackman

Special Programming Awards:

Freedom Award: THROUGH THICK AND THIN

directed by Sebastian Cordoba

Outstanding Emerging Talent ($5,000 product grant from Kodak):

Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert, directors, FINN’S GIRL

Outstanding Artistic Achievement:

Angelina Maccarone, director, VIVERE

Audience Awards:

HBO Outstanding First Dramatic Feature ($5,000 cash prize): SHELTER

directed by Jonah Markowitz

Outstanding Dramatic Feature: THE BUBBLE

directed by Eytan Fox

Outstanding Documentary Feature: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

directed by Daniel Karslake

Outstanding Dramatic Short: PARIAH

directed by Dee Rees

Outstanding Documentary Short: FREEHELD

directed by Cynthia Wade

Outstanding Soundtrack: Michele Mulroney and Micah Schraft for SUNNY AND SHARE LOVE YOU

FILM COMPETITION JURORS

U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES COMPETITION

JENNI OLSON

Jenni Olson, director of e-commerce at WolfeVideo.com, is a leading expert on LGBT cinemahistory. She is a curator and archivist, has established PlanetOut. com’s massive queer movie database, PopcornQ, serves on the advisory board for Outfest’s Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation and is launching the new Wolfe Vintage Collection. Also a filmmaker, Jenni’s debut feature, THE JOY OF LIFE, won the Outfest Award for OUTStanding Artistic Achievement in 2005. She is in development on a new feature, GET ME GUINEVERE TURNER.

BARRY SANDLER

Barry Sandler is the screenwriter of CRIMES OF PASSION, THE MIRROR CRACK’D, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, GABLE AND LOMBARD, THE KANSAS CITY BOMBER, and the groundbreaking MAKING LOVE. He is the recipient of the GLAAD Media Award and the Outfest 2002 Gay Pioneer Award for Courage and Artistry, and was named by The Advocate as one of the most influential gay artists in America. Sandler also serves as Artistic Director of the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, and teaches screenwriting at the University of Central Florida School of Film and Digital Media.

DARRYL STEPHENS

Darryl Stephens studied acting while attending UC Berkeley and was part of the university-based theater troupe, Sassymouth. His television roles include MTV’s “Undressed,” CBS’ “That’s Life” and VH1’s “Red Eye.” Stephens studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse prior to joining the cast of “Noah’s Arc” in the leading role of Noah. Stephens can be seen in two feature films, Q. Allan Brocka’s BOY CULTURE and in a supporting role in Todd Stephens’ ANOTHER GAY MOVIE. His other feature film credits include SEAMLESS, CIRCUIT, and the independent feature NOT QUITE RIGHT.

INTERNATIONAL DRAMATIC FEATURES COMPETITION

ALONSO DURALDE

Alonso Duralde is the author of 101 Must- See Movies For Gay Men (Alyson Books) and vice president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. He was the Arts & Entertainment Editor at The Advocate and Artistic Director of the USA Film Festival/Dallas. He is featured in the documentaries FABULOUS! THE STORY OF QUEER CINEMA and HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, BOY and on the DVDs of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. He is currently at work on his next book.

EVE OISHI

Eve Oishi is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at Claremont Graduate University. Her research specialities include Asian American, queer and experimental cinema and transnational media culture. Her book, The Memory Village: Fakeness and the Forging of Family in Asian American Literature and Film, is forthcoming from Duke University Press. She has curated film and video programs for film festivals in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia and served as international features consultant for the Sundance Film Festival.

CARLOS GARZA

Carlos Garza began his programming career at the Cinematexas International Short Film Festival while he was studying at the University of Texas in Austin. In 2003, he became a founding member of the Morelia International Film Festival, which has emerged as one of Mexico’s premiere film events. Garza has been a freelance journalist, editor, and publicist, coordinator of the World Cinema Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, and nominator for the Media Arts Fellowship program for Mexican film and video artists administered by Renew Media and established by the Rockefeller Foundation.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION

BILLY LUTHER

Billy Luther studied film at Hampshire College and worked for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian-Native American Film and Video Festival. A past honoree of Film Independent’s Project: Involve, Luther was recently selected for the Tribeca Institute’s All Access Program, the 2006 Sundance Ford Fellowship and FIND’s FastTrack with his feature documentary MISS NAVAJO, which screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. He is in development on the UNTITLED INDIAN MARCHING BAND PROJECT and Nanobah Becker’s FULL. Luther belongs to the Navajo, Hopi and Laguna Pueblo Tribes.

MEENA NANJI

Meena Nanji has been working in experimental and documentary film/video for the last twelve years. Her films VIEW FROM A GRAIN OF SAND, VOICES OF THE MORNING, LIVING IN COLOUR, and IT IS A CRIME have been recognized by the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Paul Robeson Fund, The American Film Institute, and NAATA. Meena has curated various film/ video festivals and screenings in Los Angeles and San Francisco, been a juror on grant-giving organizations and film festivals, and guest lectures at universities and conferences around the world.

LAURA NIX

Laura Nix began her documentary career in the early nineties in Boston, and has since produced and directed over 50 presentations for DVD and television, including the feature documentary on the creative evolution of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, titled WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT: THE STORY OF HEDWIG. She also wrote and directed the fiction feature THE POLITICS OF FUR, which won numerous awards during its appearance at 70 film festivals worldwide including the Grand Jury Prize for Best American Narrative and Best Actress Award at Outfest 2002.

SHORT FILMS COMPETITION

DIANE GAIDRY

Diane Gaidry is the Executive Director and co-founder of Filmmakers Alliance. She co-produced the feature film, THE DOGWALKER, and has overseen the production of numerous shorts made through FA. Diane has played lead roles in several independent features, including LOVING ANNABELLE (Best Actress Outfest 2006), NEED, THE DOGWALKER and AMERICA SO BEAUTIFUL. She is currently in pre-production on an omnibus film, RED WHITE AND BLUE, which was developed with 10 FA writer/directors.

ROBERTA MARIE MUNROE

Roberta Marie Munroe is the Program Director at the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. She was a short film programmer at the Sundance Film Festival from 2001-2006, and is the author of the upcoming book, How Not To Make A Film: Confessions Of A Sundance Programmer. Her short film DANI & ALICE has screened at over 70 film festivals and won the Planet Out Best Drama Award. In 2005, Roberta was named one of the 10 Amazing Gay Women in Hollywood by POWER UP.

CAMERON YATES

Cameron Yates is the Short Film Programmer for NewFest: The New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival. He has also worked for Sundance, the New York Film Festival, Albert Maysles, and Zeitgeist Films. As a documentary filmmaker, Cameron’s first film 14 AND PAYROLLED, a portrait of teenagers working for the Virginia House of Delegates, premiered on PBS in 2003. He is currently working on a feature documentary about a New Orleans Madam and her family.

include Caroline Rhea, David Duchovny, Marlee Matlin and more! For more information and to buy tickets visit

www.outfest.org/tla.html

Directed by: Dee Rees

Audience Award: Best Short Film (Male): “Kali Ma”

Directed by: Soman Chainani

Audience Award: Best Documentary Film: “Life of Reilly”

Directed by: Barry Poltermann and Frank L. Anderson

Audience Award: Best Feature Film: “The Bubble”

Directed by: Eytan Fox

Special Award: SCION First-Time Director: “Shelter”

Directed by: Jonah Markovich

Jury Award: Best Short Film (Female): “Peace Talk”

Directed by: Jenifer Malmqvist

Jury Award: Best Short Film (Male): “The Saddest Boy in the World”

Directed by: Jamie Travis

Jury Award: Best Documentary Film: “In Sickness and in Health”

Directed by: Pilar Prassas

Jury Award: Best Feature Film: “Itty Bitty Titty Committee” Directed by: Jamie Babbitt

Best Narrative Feature: "WHOLE NEW THING,"

directed by Amnon Buchbinder

Best New Director: Russell P. Marleau, for "THE

CURIOSITY OF CHANCE"

Honorable Mention: Ned Farr, for "THE GYMNAST"

Best Documentary Feature: "PICK UP THE MIC,"

directed by Alex Hinton

Honorable Mention: "CRUEL AND UNUSUAL,"

directed by Janet Baus, Dan Hunt, and Reid Williams

Best Local Film: "STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA," directed by Jennifer Ting

Honorable Mention: "MOM'S APPLE PIE,"

directed by Jodi Laine, Shan Ottey, and Shad Reinstein

Best Short Film: "RAPE FOR WHO I AM,"

directed by Lovinsa Kavuma

Honorable Mention: "JOHN AND MICHAEL,"

directed by Shira Avni

Honorable Mention: DAVID,

directed by Roberto Fiesco

Most Innovative Short Film: "DISPOSABLE,"

directed by Jo Gell, and Robyn Paterson

Honorable Mention: "guy101,"

directed by Ian W. Gouldstone

Audience Awards

Favorite Narrative Feature: "A LOVE TO HIDE,"

directed by Christian Faure

Favorite Documentary Feature: "BOY I AM,"

directed by Sam Feder, and Julie Hollar

Favorite Local Film: "STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA," directed by Jennifer Ting

Favorite Boys' Short: "PEKING TURKEY,"

directed by Michael Mew

Favorite Girls' Short: "BROOKLYN'S BRIDGE TO JORDAN," directed by Tina Mabry

Directed By: Chris Kraus

Frameline31 Audience Best Documentary Award: “Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey”

Directed By: Vince Dipersio

Frameline31 Audience Best Short Award: “Pariah”

Directed By: Dee Rees

The $10,000 Frameline First Feature Award: “Glue”

Directed By: Alexis Dos Santos

The $10,000 Michael J. Berg Documentary Award: “Red Without Blue”

Directed By: Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills And Todd Sills

- HBO $5,000 Jury Best Fiction Feature Award awarded to The Bubble (Israel), directed by Eytan Fox.

- HBO $1,500 Jury Best Documentary Award awarded to Red Without Blue (USA), directed by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills & Todd Sills

- HBO $1,000 Career Achievement Award awarded to Eytan Fox. The MGLFF programming committee chose Fox for his impressive trajectory of work and his contributions to queer cinema.

- HBO $1,000 Audience Favorite Feature Film Award awarded to The Chinese Botanists Daughter (France/Canada), directed by Dai Sijie and The Bubble (Israel) directed by Eytan Fox

Directed by: Rowdy Stovall

Best Short Drama: “GLACIER BAY”

Directed by: Douglas Moser

Best Comedy: “TRUST ME”

Directed by: Andrew Kazamia

Best Short Comedy: “VALIDATION”

Directed by: Kurt Kuenne

Best Documentary: “CRAWL WALK RUN”

Directed by: Tom Eldridge

Best GLBT: “SEMPER FI, ONE MARINE'S JOURNEY”

Directed by: Vince DiPersio

Best Student Film: “MONSOON”

Directed by: Shyam Balsé

Entertainment Partners Canada Award for Best Canadian Feature-Length Narrative of Documentary: “The Chinese Botanist's Daughters”

Directed by: Sijie Dai

Colin Campbell Award for Best Canadian Male Short (presented by Movieola-The Short Film Channel): “The Saddest Boy in the World”

Directed by: Jamie Travis

Honourable Mention: “Cloudbreaker”

Directed by: Adam Garnet Jones

Best Canadian Female Short Award (presented by Akau Framing and Art)

“Black Men and Me”

Directed by: Michèle Clarke

Honourable Mention: “Proud Lives: Chris Bearchell August 16, 1953-February 18, 2007”

Directed by: Nancy Nicol

Best Up-and-Coming Toronto Film or Video Maker Award (presented by Charles Street Video): “How to Build a Man”

Directed by: Krys McGuire

Honourable Mention: “Hello, My Name is Herman”

Directed by: Karine Silverwoman

Inside Out Award for Best Feature Film or Video

1st Place: “The Bubble”

Directed by: Eytan Fox

2nd Place: “The Curiosity of Chance”

Directed by: Russel P. Marleau

3rd Place: “The King and the Clown”

Directed by: Lee Jun-ik

Elle Flanders Documentary Award for Best Documentary Film or Video (presented by NOW Magazine)

1st Place: “Red Without Blue”

Directed by: Benita Sills, Todd Sills and Brooke Sebold

2nd Place: “Politics of the Heart”

Directed by: Nancy Nicol

3rd Place: “Beautiful Daughters”

Directed by: Ariel Orr Jordan and Josh Aronson

Mikey/Schmikey Award for Best Short Film or Video

1st Place: “Hello, My Name Is Herman”

Directed by: Karine Silverwoman

2nd Place: “Invulnerable”

Directed by: Alvaro Pastor

3rd Place: “A Lez in Wonderland"

Directed by: Ana Margarita Albelo

Eligibility

* Individual who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual transsexual or transgendered (LGBTT)

* Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.

* Pursuing undergraduate studies full-time in the fields of film and/or video that:

1. Relate to the cultural expression of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and/or transgender/transsexual individuals; and/or

2. Educate the mainstream community about LGBTT lives and/or issues.

* Awarding of the scholarship will be conditional upon confirmed acceptance of admission to a post-secondary institution.

* Relevant institution must offer programs that are a minimum of 16 weeks of study and lead to a degree, diploma or certificate.

Criteria

* Graduated from high school with a minimum of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent).

* Academic excellence with a minimum 70 per cent average in final year of high school or most recent post-secondary year of study.

* Involvement in the LGBTT community and/or demonstrated creative expression related to LGBTT identity.

* Applicant's financial situation may be considered by Selection Committee.

Application Process

Submission of an original plus 4 copies of the entire application package which must include:

* Completed application form for the Mark S. Bonham Scholarship for Queer Studies in Film and Video.

* A description of why you have chosen to pursue film/video studies and how queer identity might relate to or influence your future cultural work or studies. (max. 750 words).

* An outline of your extracurricular activities as they relate to this scholarship. (maximum 750 words).

* Two references from individuals who can speak to your community involvement, extracurricular activities or creative excellence.

* Samples of past creative work - optional (examples include; short videos, still photography, creative and/or writing, graphic design, and fine art). Submit no more than three samples - please be aware that due to possible excess of materials submitted, the selection committee may not be able to review materials in their entirety).

* Completed budget form and personal letter outlining financial situation (maximum length: 500 words)

* Copy of official transcripts from high school or post-secondary institution.

Awarding of the scholarship is conditional upon acceptance by one of the post-secondary institutions named in the application form.

Find out about other scholarships at www.ScholarshipsCanada.com

The Showtime Vanguard Award: “CAMP OUT”

Directed by: Larry Grimaldi and Kirk Marcolina.

The Vito Russo Award, given each year to a New York-based film project in progress: “DIRTY GIRL”

Directed by: Abe Sylvia

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

The Audience Award for Best Feature was awarded to: “CRUEL & UNUSUAL”

Directed by: Janet Baus, Dan Hunt, and Reid Williams.

The Audience Award for Best Short was awarded to: “AVAILABLE MEN”

Directed by: David Dean Bottrell.

JURIED AWARDS:

The Best US Narrative Feature Award went to: “THE GYMNAST” Directed by: Ned Farr

The Best Foreign Narrative Feature Award went to: “GO WEST”

Directed by: Ahmed Imamovic

Honorable Mention went to: “GYPO”

Directed by: Jan Dunn

The Best Documentary Feature Award went to: “CAMP OUT”

Directed by: Larry Grimaldi & Kirk Marcolina

The Best Short Award: “PEACE TALK”

Directed by: Jenifer Malmquist

Directed By Jamie Babbit

Audience Choice Award For Best Documentary ($1000 Cash): “Meth”

Directed By Todd Ahlberg

Audience Choice Award For Best Short Film ($500 Cash): “Sexy Thing”

Directed By Denie Pentecost

Turtle Cove Audience Choice Award For Best Australian Short Film: “Prada Handbag”

Directed By Stuart Vauvert

City Of Melbourne Award For Best Australian Short Film (Jury Voted $2000 Cash): “Sexy Thing”

Directed By Denie Pentecost

Selector’s Choice Award For Best Australian Film In Celluloid Casserole: “Queens’land”

Directed By Matthais Cerwen